Articles | Volume 23, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1545-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1545-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Feb 2026
Research article |
| 27 Feb 2026
| 27 Feb 2026
Coupling of soil carbon and water dynamics in two agroforestry systems in Malawi
Svenja Hoffmeister
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Water and Environment, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
Sibylle Kathrin Hassler
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Water and Environment, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
Rebekka Maier
Chair of Soil Ecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79085, Germany
Friederike Lang
Chair of Soil Ecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79085, Germany
Betserai Isaac Nyoka
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, Off-Mchinji Road, Lilongwe, Malawi
Erwin Zehe
Chair of Hydrology, Institute of Water and Environment, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
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Short summary
Combining trees and crops in agroforestry systems can potentially be a sustainable option for agriculture facing climate change impacts. We used methods from soil science and hydrology to assess the effect of adding gliricidia trees to maize fields, on carbon content, soil properties and water availability. Our results show a clear increase in carbon contents and effects on physical soil characteristics and water uptake and retention as a consequence of the agroforestry treatment.
Combining trees and crops in agroforestry systems can potentially be a sustainable option for...
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